[Day: Wednsday, March 12th. Time: 5:00 p.m.] [Weather: Chilly, after snowfall. The west sky is starting to turn red.] [Yesterday you found out Ayako is having a party and decided to crash it. But first Kaede called Remi and, being Remi-like, she hung up on him to settle things herself. So now you're outside Seiryu. Luckily, you've got addresses for Eiko's and Ayako's places. Whatcha gonna do?] [Session Start] It may be easier to call Ayako on a pretext to have her come to us, rather than rushing to her. * Kaede turns slowly to Haruko and rubs his forehead. "...then why didn't you think of that while I was still in the computer? I don't have her phone number. Do you?" Besides, 'someone' might already be rushing over to her if you hadn't forgotten. * Haruko sighs. "Didn't think of it in time. But that was the point of the idea. If we can draw Ayako out than we don't have to race Remi." * Katie shakes her head. "I think keeping Remi out of trouble is the number one worry right now." ( Nah. More like number 3 or 4 ) * Haruko gets walking to the subway. "Well, suppose we'll have to hope we get there first then." * Kaede flips open his pad. "Not quite what I expected, but it worked. So we go here." He fingers Ayako's address. * Kaede mutters under his breath as he closes the pad and walks, pushing up his glasses with his two fingers. "...or get there before too much harm is done..." * Katie nods and walks for the station, too. * Satoshi follows along. You were expecting something else? ^_~ So, what's the plan? We go to Ayako's. We scope out if there's any trouble. If there isn't, then we don't necessarily need to be there. Unless you want to question her early. But I figure it'd be better to get her at the party when her guard is down. * Satoshi blinks. "We're really going to try and crash the party?" If there are people at one of her exclusive parties that she didn't invite, wouldn't that put her guard up? Less than if we just show up suddenly at her home. A popular enough party is bound to have some uninvited guests trying to get in. * Haruko gets out her cell phone and calls Ryuji. "Wonder if I can get what evidence Saki has on her." * Kaede looks over at Katie strangly, tipping his head. "You're awfully quiet, Katie Andrews." * Katie glances at Kaede, a slight frown on her face. "I don't have anything to say." She folds her arms. "Not this time." * Kaede frowns slightly too. "Are you sure?" Yeah. We don't know if Ayako is what she says she is, and we don't know if Remi's going to be there or not. Nothing to do but wait and see. * Haruko hits a button on her cell and puts it away. "Does he ever leave it on... Right, I think subtly is overrate in this case. She's not going to admit how she gets the drugs to some random party crasher, and it doesn't really matter how she gives them away." We don't need to know how she gets the drugs. Just that she's distributing them? She's only useful if we can use her to follow Chariot. It'd be nice to know. * Haruko scowls. "Look, if the dealers are a distraction, who cares! We have more important stuff to worry about." * Kaede nods slightly. * Kaede glares at Haruko, then regains his composure, saying in an ice-calm voice. "And Remi's friend possibly being involved in these drugs isn't 'important stuff'? * Kaede turns towards the subway again and walks off quickly. 'We're wasting time talking." [Time: 5:30 p.m.] [You stop at the station closest to the Kunoichi estate, meaning you still have a fair distance to walk. The sky is red.] * Kaede walks most certainly, and certainly not happily. He's scanning the surroundings casually but mostly focused on getting there ASAP * Haruko looks straight back at Kadee. "You're right. I've been letting memory erase woman's reprimand get to me. Saving Remi's friend...." * Haruko shakes her head as she walks keeping up. * Satoshi follows along, not entirely sure exactly what he's going to do once they arrive at their destination. But he'll figure something out. [Satoshi's phone rings. *brrrrrrrrRING!*] * Katie walks, hands in her pockets and looking into the distance. * Satoshi pulls out his phone. "Satoshi here." No. Saving Eiko is important. But we should probably try to do that by talking to her. "Oh, hey, Taki! Where are you?" * Kaede doesn't respond, walking on. He looks pretty determined. * Haruko walks a faster pace. "Saving everyone is important. Whatever we do after this, we'll make a plan, we'll stop that party and for Ayako to lead us to Chariot." If she's a dealer. * Satoshi looks around to make sure no one besides the group is in earshot, then says quietly, "We're on our way to Ayako Kunoichi's. It's... a long story. Involving the drugs." * Kaede still doesn't talk back, focused ahead, seeing how far it is to the estate. * Haruko looks at Katie as she walks. "Oh, Saki wasn't certain?" * Katie shakes her head. Oh... that changes things. * Kaede stops suddenly and speaks, mostly under his breath but enough to be heard. "Doesn't matter...now that Remi thinks she is..." * Haruko doesn't slack her pace, though she seems to be considering something. [You get to the estate. It's estatey. It's a two-story mansion, despite being in the city, and is surrounded by a high barred-fence.] [No sign of Remi. Yay?] * Kaede looks up slowly. "No Remi." ...which means she either isn't here....or.... * Haruko looks up. "Huh, well, obviously Ayako isn't doing it to support her family. Alright. Anyone see more than one entrance?" * Satoshi looks up from his phone for a second. "Guys? Is it safe for Taki to teleport here?" * Katie glances around. * Haruko scopes entrances to the place. [Nobody here. Probably.] [Haruko spots a sign that says "Secret Entrence" down the street... oh wait, it's just a mailbox.] If she doesn't think she'll end up in a tree. * Satoshi chuckles. "I'll give her directions." * Kaede looks for a call-box. * Satoshi goes back to the phone. "It looks all clear for now." He then gives Taki directions on the general area of the place. (Or whatever those buzzing things at the gates are called) 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Taki (2d6-2) and gets 5. [Kaede sees one!] * Haruko looks up at the estate for lights, signs of a commotution or gate jumping, or any icec that shouldn't be there. "We'll see you then." * Satoshi hangs up. I wonder if someone would just tell us if she's shown up or not. [Meanwhile, Taki shows up.] Hopefully she went to talk to Eiko, but...somehow, that just doesn't seem Remi's style... * Taki arrives with her usual lack of fanfair, "I think I'm getting better at this." * Satoshi blinks, then smiles at Taki. "That was fast." * Katie blinks at Taki. [Taki is blinked at.] It's not Remi's style, really. Hey Kaede, can you tell if that box has been used recently? Like the way you traced that phone call? * Taki looks around for her friends and then hurries over to them, "Hi everybody...what's the long story?" I...can try. I figure she'd try the callbox, then jump the fence if she wasn't let in. * Kaede frowns. "Wait...remember what happened to that computer I tried to access? If something goes wrong, and the call box short circuits, do you think they'd suspect something?" What could they suspect? It'd be hard to trace back to us. I can loan you gloves if you want to not leave prints. * Haruko glances around for security cameras. * Kaede nods. "I'd prefer that...if we do need to come back to the party, I'd prefer Ayako not knowing who at least some of us are if it can be helped..." The long story... honestly, somebody else would probably be much better qualified to tell it than me. I'm not entirely sure of everything that's going on myself. Though...I doubt that'll necessarily happen. * Satoshi blinks at Kaede. "Err... actually, it's a bit too late for that. I've met her already." ( Gimme an electronics (security) check Haruko. ) * Katie lets out a sigh. She looks at Taki. "Ayako might be a drug dealer. Remi heard this and hung up on a talk with Kaede." The other day, in the newspaper office. Ahh, that's allright Sato...oooh. * Kaede turns to Taki for a moment as he reaches out for the gloves. "Ayako may be involved in drugs, Eiko's involved with Ayako, Remi found out." * Kaede slowly turns to Satoshi. "...wonderful." Well...the good news in that is... * Kaede puts a hand on Satoshi's shoulder. "You get to talk to her and ask if she's seen Remi." I... uh? He has a point. If you already met on good terms, you might want to see her again. ( You need an electronics (security) roll ) * Taki looks at the wall, "looks like the place is still standing...so I don't think she's here yet..." 2d6-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Haruko (2d6-3) and gets 0. And there's no harm in a friendly aquaintance inquiring about a friend, is there?" [Haruko sees a lack of any obvious cameras.] That's true. We had a brief conversation, and she seemed pretty nice then, so... yeah, I could do it, I guess. * Katie grins. "Good." * Kaede nods and takes a few steps back. Hmm.. no obviosu cameras, good. So I can check after and see if Ayako lies to us. * Haruko nods and smiles. "Good plan." * Taki nods. What if she asks how I got her address, though? You could say Remi gave it to you, if we're going to ask about her. You asked Remi...what she said. * Satoshi looks over at Kaede. "That work?" Yes. Go! * Satoshi looks startled. "Okay. Going!" * Satoshi pushes the button on the call box. * Katie snickers. * Taki smiles and shakes her head. [Beep! A middle-aged man answers. "Yes?"] * Haruko nods in agreement with Kaede and continues to smile. Err, hi. I'm looking for Ayako-san? I met her the other day when she was giving an interview for my school's newspaper, and I wanted to ask her a question about a friend of ours. May I please speak with her? ["Whom shall I say is calling?"] Satoshi Watanabe. ["One moment."] Thank you, sir. (Satoshi is doing things! I'm amazed! ;p) * Haruko watches and looks like she's relaxing a bit. (He's just following orders ^_~) (He's still acting. ^_^) (Well, yes, but it beats standing around looking lost. ;p) (That's my job for now :P) * Katie puts her hands behind her back and rocks on her heels, looking up into the sky. * Kaede looks at the ground, hands in his pocket, focused on the tips of his shoes. * Taki leans on the wall and waits. [After a good 10 minutes of waiting, a voice (female, familliar to some of you) finally speaks from the box. "Who's this?"] * Haruko walks over to Kaede and says quietly. "So, if Satoshi gets to go in, I think we should leave people out here in case Remi shows up. What do you think?" Ayako-san? This is Satoshi Watanabe. I met you the other day in the Sakuragaoka newspaper office. I have a question to ask you, if I may. * Kaede adjusts his glasses, replying quietly. "She may not be here yet, but I doubt it...it probably wouldn't be a bad idea." "I don't remember you." * Haruko nods and starts typing on her cell phone, her voicee doesn't get louder. "Doesn't look like he'll get in, but we should keep a connection open if he does." It was pretty brief, actually. You'd just gotten finished an interview with Chikako, and then we came in. She introduced us. "Mmm.... Well, what is it?" * Haruko finishes typing and keeps speaking quietly. "I've killed the volume on mine, so it could eavesdrop without giving it away if there is noise on the other end." Thank you. I know this might be a bit of a stretch, but... I'm looking for a friend who goes to your school. Remi Okui. We checked at the school, but she wasn't there, and someone said she was friends with you, or one of her friends was friends with you. Would you have seen or heard from her lately? "Who?" Remi Okui. * Kaede quirks an eyebrow as he listens to the conversation. "Oh. Maybe you've been misinformed." * Haruko whipes her brow and keeps her low voice. "Sounds like we got here in time. Probably good to check the box just in case though." It's quite possible. Thank you for your time, then. I'm sorry to have disturbed you. "She's not a friend. I don't know anything about her, except that I don't like her much." * Haruko pecks at her phone to turn the volume up again. * Kaede frowns a little but whispers back. "...but....Remi left before us. How could we get here before she did?" Ahh, maybe I misinterpreted the information. Well, again, thank you. * Taki leans a bit off the wall to shrug at Kaede. "Goodbye." * Haruko whispers. "Bring up a map. We might have been closer, or had a more direct subway connection. Or maybe she got lost." * Satoshi steps away from the callbox, then says quietly to the group, "Think we should move down the street a bit so no one gets suspicious?" * Haruko nods. "Kaede should try to check for recent calls, then we should move. Let's surround him while he does it, in case he gets any special effects." I suppose...I guess, we could check Eiko's too... * Katie is frowning very slightly, but turns her attention from the sky. "We could, yeah." They didn't get along...well, we suspected that. In fact, I'm surprised she really knows her at all...." * Taki stands up and nods, "Maybe Remi's blown up near her before." * Haruko nods. "Yeah, well quick do the test Kaede unless you've changed your mind. We should discuss this when we aren't looking suspious." * Kaede frowns. "What does Eiko have to do with all this though...?" * Kaede nods and walks over to the box. I don't know, but this is possibly the second time she's been involved with the drugs. * Haruko moves to stand between Kaede and the street. * Katie walks after them. "I think... well, even without drugs, Ayako and Remi wouldn't like each other." I think so too...she's stealing her friend after all...and just philosophically... Remi thinks Ayako's stealing her friend from her. Ayako would think Remi's jealous. It's pretty easy to see. Yeah. * Haruko nods in agreement. * Kaede quiets and puts his hands on the sides of the box and concentrates. * Taki moves away from the wall. nothing to see here, move along. [Just as Kaede goes to do that, who should come around the corner but Remi? And oh, does she look mad.] Kaede? She's here. * Katie spots Remi out of the corner of her eye and turns to look. "Speak of the devil." * Kaede stops and blinks, slowly looking up. "...Remi?" * Taki turns to see what the commotion is about. "...Oh, good." * Haruko moves quickly towards Remi. "Hello." [Katie couldn't have chosen better words. Because following Remi is a coyly grinning Sho. (ok, maybe they'd be better if it was Saki following her...)] * Taki twitches. [Remi looks at you all. "What are you doing here?"] * Haruko blinks at that. * Kaede narrows his eyes slightly. "What's HE doing here?" Hoo boy... * Katie shifts her position slightly so she's blocking the gate. We're trying to shut down the drug trade, and wanted to make sure that we'd be working together with you to do it. * Taki backs up untill Satoshi is between her and Sho. Remi moves forwards, nodding to Haruko. "Good, let's go." a cold mist swirls around her fingertips as she walks. * Satoshi is used as a shield. Yay? ( You go, Satoshi. ) Wait, wait, Remi. She might not be a dealer. We don't know yet. * Kaede holds his hand out. "Have you talked to Eiko yet?" Remi continues to push past. "Of course she is! It all fits!" What all fits? Slow down! What fits? * Katie grabs Remi's arm and tries to pull her back when she pushes past. Not all the annoying people in the world are drug dealers you know. * Kaede lets out a deep sigh and rubs his forehead. "Remi, listen to me. Even if it DOES, if we don't have evidence, WE'RE the agressors. She could easily call the cops on us." * Haruko does her best to keep in Remi's way. * Taki walks up to Remi and tries to take her other arm, "Anyway we need to take this slowly." But we will get the evidence if Ayako's guilty. And we will get it soon, and we'll back you up in confronting her. Remi looks back and forth. "No! Let's finish it now!" Remi tries to pull her arms free (body rolls if you're gonna hang on) 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Taki (2d6) and gets 6. 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Katie (2d6) and gets 11. Finish what? Kaede's right; she could very well call the police on you. Us. Whoever. Remi pulls herself free and tries to walk around Haruko. "I don't care. She won't hurt my friends anymore." All we've got is the word of one perso! ::gets shaken off the arm she's on:: * Kaede opens his eyes slowly. "And if you get locked away, who will protect your friends, Remi?" [Sho, meanwhile, stands more at a distance, not saying anything.] * Haruko moves to block her path. "If we go to soon, Kaede's right. We'll fail to protect her." Remi glances back over her shoulder at Kaede. "Nobody will be left to go after them if I get rid of her now." * Kaede holds out his hand to Haruko. "Stand back." * Katie looks right at Sho and walks over to him. "What are you doing here?" She glances at Remi. "Remi! What's he doing here?" Sho chuckles. "I thought this looked interesting. I'd like to see how it turns out." * Haruko glances over at Kaede, and then reluctantly does so. * Kaede adjusts his glasses casually. "What do you plan to do to Ayako, Remi?" Remi grabs hold of two bars of the gate. "What do you think?" * Satoshi eyes Sho. That doesn't answer my question, Okui-san. * Katie turns back to Sho. "We're not here for your amusement. Don't you have anything better to do?" What if it's not Ayako, Remi! Saki could have found out that someone in her circle was the dealer but got the name wrong. Haruko, let me handle this. "And what if it is and we don't get rid of her now? Are you going to let other people get hurt?! I'm not like that." * Taki clenches her fists a few times but lets Kaede do the talking...wait last time we did that he got beaten senseless. (*snerk*) Sho shrugs at Katie. "Not right now, no." * Kaede keeps a steady eye on Remi. "What do you intend to do to her, Remi?" * Haruko doesn't listen to Kaede and looks Remi dead on. "Neither am I. She has a party coming up, that's the next time she'll give them out if she's a dealer. We'll be there to stop her if she turns out to be one." Or we'll confront her earlier. We won't let anyone else get hurt! * Katie eyes Sho for a moment longer, then walks up behind Remi. Remi looks at Haruko. "And how to you expect to do that?" * Kaede glares at Haruko. * Katie puts her hand on Remi's shoulder. "Remi. Listen to me." She looks at Haruko. "And be quiet for a second, please?" * Haruko looks back at Remi. "By force if necessary. But if she gives them out, we'll have proof." Please, Haruko. Give us until the party Remi. That's all I ask. And I promise you that you will be there when we take her down if she's guilty. Remi clenches a fist. "I'm not going to lose both of my best friends. No way." * Katie glares at Haruko. "Cut it." * Taki walks next to Haruko and puts a hand on her lightly on her arm. * Haruko glances at Taki and takes a step back. * Katie then moves to stand next to Remi so she's facing her as much as possible. "I know you're scared and worried and angry. But Remi... do you remember what happened last time you did this?" * Taki nods at Katie, not caring if Katie can see her or not. [Sho stands around looking evil.] * Kaede takes a long deep breath, closing his eyes then opening them, watching Katie. (He's good at that...how many levels of looming does he have?) (*snicker*) * Satoshi continues to watch Sho, since everyone else is concentrating on Remi. [Only 4] (That's still pretty impressive. ^_^) Sho smiles. "You don't have to worry, Hideo. I'm merely observing. This time." * Satoshi blinks. "I'm sorry, what did you call me?" * Katie flicks her eyes to Sho and back to Remi, waiting for her answer. Sho looks directly at Satoshi. "Oh, I'm sorry." He grins even wider, "Must have been a slip of the tongue." * Haruko whispers to Taki, "I hope you're right." * Satoshi stares right at Sho. "... Right." Remi looks at Katie. "That was different." I'm sure that was accidental. * Taki whispers back, glad of something to distract her from Sho, "Katie is better at this than either of us." * Kaede doesn't look at Sho, commenting off-hand. "Yes, tongues can sometimes be slippery and slimy can't they?" How? You attacked an innocent person then. How do you know you won't do it now? * Haruko doesn't look convinced. Remi: "Because before it was obviously a set up! This time it's obvious!" * Katie continues, very calmly, "If it was obviously a set up, why didn't you notice it before? You were sure you were right." "I made a mistake then, ok? But this time Kaede told me." No. He told you she might be a drug dealer. Not that she is. * Haruko starts to look convinced. Remi frowns. "Well, why would you call me if she wasn't?" * Kaede still watches Katie slowly. Because I wanted to warn you just in case...and maybe so you could notice something suspicious about her... * Haruko looks more convinced and whispers. "Alright, good call Taki." * Katie nods. "We wanted to make sure you knew we were suspicious, just in case. We wanted you to help us find out if it's true or not." * Taki puts her free hand to her forehead, and whispers, "The way I see it, Cups arn't very good at arguing with other Cups, we just get more and more emotional." Remi looks down, her hands still clenched. "That isn't fair." * Kaede looks down at the ground. "I'm sorry..it's my fault. But..would you have rathered me not tell you?" * Haruko sighs and whispers. "I thought I could get through to her, I know how it feels to be in her position. I guess you're right on that." Remi: "...I don't want maybe's. I want the people responsible. And I want them to suffer." * Kaede looks at the ground. "Remi..." * Katie nods. "But if that's what you want, you need to get the right people." * Kaede nods slightly. "And we want you to help find the right people too..." Remi looks at Katie. "And how do I do that when you're telling me about everyone who 'might' be one?" * Katie tilts her head. "Do you want me to keep information from you until we're absolutely sure? I can do that." Remi frowns to herself. At least she looks calmer, though. * Kaede gets very quiet. If you want to help us find the right people, then that's great. If you don't and just want us to tell you if we find them, that's okay, too. But attacking people when you're not sure just means innocents are going to get hurt. And none of us want that. * Taki lets go of Haruko's arm and takes a step back. [Meanwhile, Sho walks off. "Well, as amusing as this is, I can see where it's going from here."] Wait. * Kaede looks up and watches Sho. * Haruko whispers to Taki. "I'm not like that about Yushiro, am I?" * Satoshi continues to watch Sho, his eyes narrowed. [Sho either didn't hear Kaede or doesn't care.] * Kaede shrugs slightly and lets him go. Remi: "I... I don't know if I can handle this." * Satoshi waits until Sho's out of sight, then turns to watch Remi and Katie. * Taki makes a show of thinking that over and this wispers back, "Not quite as bad, and I want to hit him too so..." * Kaede looks at Satoshi for a moment out of the corner of his eye, responding to Remi. "It's not a matter of ability. We're going to have to..." But it doesn't mean we have to like it... * Taki continues to wisper, "Besides you can talk yourself out these things." Remi looks at Kaede. "It's got nothing to do with that! I'm just tired." She sighs. "I'm tired of not knowing who's hurting my friends." Yeah. We are too. * Taki nods. * Haruko looks up at Remi. "I know how you feel, I've had a friend of mine beaten up. Beaten up as a message to me. And I can't even be sure who did it." * Kaede sighs deeply and adjusts his glasses. "We are too..." * Katie leans against the gate and keeps looking to Remi. "That's why we're trying to stop it." "Fine. What do you want me to do?" First let's get out of here, to somewhere we can talk in private. Talk to Eiko? Remi: "I've tried." We could, if you think we might have any more luck. * Kaede frowns. "What'd she say?" Remi: "Nothing." * Katie blinks. "Nothing?" * Taki bites her tounge gently and mutters to herself "let them do this, let them do this." "Nothing beyond, 'Hi. I have to go' or stuff like that." And..how did you ask?" "By phone, in the halls, after school..." I mean what did you say to her? "Something. Anything. It doesn't matter." * Katie blinks again. So she's been avoiding you? * Haruko sighs. "Yeah." * Kaede frowns slightly. "That's...weird..." [Session sudden End!]